Nicole & Eric | Felina Restaurant & Events | Ridgewood, NJ

The Wedding of Nicole LaSusa & Eric Schoeffling

Their Vendors

Ceremony: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Reception: Felina Restaurant & Events, call/text: 908.418.4186, landmarkvenues.com
Gown: Martina Liana at Bridal Garden, Marlton, NJ
Bridesmaids: Basix Black Label
Tux: Ike Behar
Photographer: Monika Eisenbart, monikaeisenbart.com
Makeup: Make Me Up Eva
Hair: Unbridled Beauty, Kristy Lahens
Florist: A Touch of Elegance
Cake: Palermo’s Bakery
Band: The Wedding Crashers
Photo Booth: JJ Pixx Photo Booth

“Historical Flair”

Eric and I met on Bumble back when dating apps were still new. We texted for a few weeks before meeting at a brewery for our first date. We had an instant attraction and great chemistry. There was something about him that made me feel at home. Four years, two cats, and two years of living together later, we became engaged! It was Christmas time and I went home for the holidays. Eric was supposed to be meeting me there the following day, but when I arrived at my childhood home he was already there. I stood in the foyer when he turned a corner and I realized what was happening. After he proposed, we called my family to have them come home to celebrate.

We jumped right into planning, and scheduled an appointment to visit Felina Restaurant and Events. We’d seen one other venue and had scheduled some to follow, but after setting foot into Felina, we knew it was the place we would have our wedding. There’s a timeless elegance to the Treasury. A mezzanine surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, black and white checkered floors, beautiful lights spread across the ceiling, and a large bank vault in the center of it all make this venue truly one-of-a-kind. We fell in love with the Treasury, and soon after, we fell in love with the restaurant and Chef Bucco’s extraordinary cuisine.

From start to finish, working with Chef Bucco and Bailey Shada, the event coordinator, was both easy and enjoyable. There were times Eric and I wondered if we would need to limit our guest list or postpone the wedding for a later date, and Felina was always super responsive to our concerns. They checked in on us frequently, making us more optimistic and excited. Felina did everything to take the stress off us so we could enjoy the process. The day of our wedding was everything we hoped for, and it’s entirely due to Felina’s staff and service, and the historical flair of the Treasury.

Our ceremony was at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, about a block away from Felina. It was very convenient, and one of the most gorgeous churches we’ve ever seen.

Our guests are still talking about cocktail hour. The Mezzanine provided for the most perfect cocktail hour environment. The food was not only delicious, but beautifully displayed. Our photographer captured really stunning photos of our passed canapés and stations such as the seafood.

Eric and I felt incredibly lucky to have our wedding at Felina Restaurant, especially when we saw the Treasury all set up for our reception. It was so romantic. The sun was setting and the whole ballroom was soaked in golden light. Natural light transitioning to a candlelit ballroom felt uniquely elegant.

Dinner was exceptional. The first course was a chicory salad with pear, Marcona almonds, and gorgonzola picante. Our entrée choices were filet of beef with broccoli and hen of the woods mushrooms, and halibut with fingerling potato, fennel, and pea tendrils. Every plate was empty, and our guests kept complimenting the food all night long.

Our wedding cake, from Palermo’s Bakery, was a standard vanilla with cannoli filling; something we incorporated for my Sicilian half of the family. The four-tiered cake was ivory-colored with beautiful, delicate flower details. Felina also served a special chocolate budino for dessert.

It was so important to us to work with a great venue and vendors, but even moreso because of the tough year we all had due to the pandemic. We weren’t always able to meet vendors face-to-face, and the dedication to answering our calls, emails, and questions was beyond appreciated. We chose an incredible venue and we thank Chef Bucco, Bailey, and the staff at Felina, along with our amazing vendors. 

Felina Restaurant & Events, Ridgewood, NJ, call/text: 908.418.4186, landmarkvenues.com